Falls from height are a leading cause of workplace injuries in the UK, with 40 fatalities and over 43,000 non-fatal injuries reported last year. At Engie Fabricom, working at height is a significant hazard that requires adherence to safety protocols, including the use of suitable working platforms and trained personnel for scaffolding. Key safety principles include never altering scaffolding, maintaining proper equipment conditions, and ensuring proper fall protection measures are in place.

1. Toolbox Talk
Professionalism ▪ Integrity ▪ Trust ▪ Team Spirit
Last year in the UK 40 people died and nearly 43,000 reported non fatal injuries as a result of a fall from
height in the workplace. Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injury and the second most
common cause of major injury to employees, accounting for around 15% of all such injuries.
At ENGIE Fabricom we carry out a significant amount of work ‘at height’ and as such this is one of the
major hazards encountered.
Work at height means work in any place where, if precautions are not taken, a person could fall a distance
liable to cause personal injury.
You are working at height if you:
■ Work above ground/floor level
■ Could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or
■ Could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground
ALL works carried out “ at height” must be undertaken from a suitable working platform or have
edge protection. The working platform must be constructed to allow safe access and prevent accidental
falls of operatives and / or equipment.
Usually onsite the ACCESS PLATFORM will be constructed of scaffolding and will have been erected by a
specialist company.
There are some basic rules which MUST be obeyed in relation to scaffolding.
Always maintain the highest level of housekeeping on all elevated working platforms. Tool bags and bolt
boxes must be used to store small items.
Aluminium EASY FIX SCAFFOLD TOWERS are a good safe method of access provided they are
erected properly. They must only be erected or modified by trained personnel.
Working At Height - Safety Principle No. 11
NEVER modify
or alter
scaffolding,
only trained
competent
scaffolders
can carry
out
modifications
ALWAYS
check for a
valid scaftag
which should
have been
signed by the
scaffold
inspector
weekly
ALWAYS
check the
scaffold for
obvious faults /
missing boards,
even if it has a
current tag
NEVER go
onto or work
from a scaffold
which you think
to be unsafe
ALWAYS work
from inside the
handrails, never
reach out
beyond or climb
onto or over the
handrails not
only is this very
unsafe but also
on a lot of sites
this can be
cause for
exclusion from
site

2. Toolbox Talk
Professionalism ▪ Integrity ▪ Trust ▪ Team Spirit
There are some basic rules which MUST be obeyed in relation to aluminium easy fix scaffolding:
■ Aluminium easy fix scaffold towers ONLY to be used on level solid ground
■ ALWAYS climb up internally, NEVER climb up the outside
■ No men or materials on board when moving
■ BE AWARE of overhead obstructions and hazards
■ Handrails and toe boards MUST be fitted
■ When fitted with wheels the brakes MUST be locked in position before use
Ladders and steps can only be used for simple short duration tasks and inspection type activities.
When working from ladders or steps, they MUST be in good condition, check for splits, damage or missing
rings, check that it is adequately secured at the top and for long ladders at least once in the middle.
If using ladders for access to working platforms remember you must always have three points of contact,
DO NOT carry tools or materials up or down ladders, get a hand line or assistance from a
colleague.
When working in MEWP’s you MUST be fully trained to operate the machine and you MUST wear a full
body harness with a restraint lanyard attached to the anchor point in the machine.
Never attempt to take a short cut when working at height, remember according to the Work at Height
Regulations this applies to areas below grade as well as above grade, it is ANYWHERE which presents
the potential to fall, such as at the sides of trenches and excavations.
Working At Height - Safety Principle No. 11